Lightning Rod

Surely Berlin's Democratic Town Committee could have found a better candidate than Arthur Powers to fill a vacancy on the board of police commissioners. It's as if, sensing an impending storm, Democrats chose to walk outside and hold hands around a lightning rod. Mr. Powers is a human lightning rod, especially when it comes to political controversy. Democrats know this. Some even said as much when they hinted, prior to the town committee vote Thursday, that Mr. Powers' nomination might not pass muster with the Republican-dominated town council, which has the final say. Even Mr. Powers addressed the issue -- adding his own spin, of course.

By KENNETH R. GOSSELIN, kgosselin@courant.com and The Hartford Courant, May 10, 2012

Former Connecticut Light & Power president Jeffrey D. Butler has sold his Avon house for $1.56 million, just four months after putting the Pembroke Drive property on the market. The 6,800-square-foot Colonial at 8 Pembroke Drive was purchased by Donald R. Droppo Jr. and his wife Amy for just under the listing price of $1.6 million, according to public records. Donald Droppo is the president and CEO of Curtis Packaging Corp., a family-owned business in Sandy Hook. Butler and his wife Susan paid $1.6 million for the house in 2009.

A self-described "lightning rod" of the state panel trying to choose a dump site for radioactive waste has resigned to pursue another state job in public affairs -- creating a better business climate and selling Connecticut as a hot spot for tourism. Joseph Cohen, whose aggressive style made him a target of much of the anger and frustration of residents opposed to a dump, will leave his job as spokesman of the Connecticut Hazardous Waste Management Service Jan. 28. Cohen, 41, of Rocky Hill, will join the department as manager of communications, a new position at a salary of about $55,000, created to tie together several areas of communication, Joseph J. McGee Jr., commissioner of the state Department of Economic Development said Thursday.

Jeremy Lin's rise in popularity has been quick, and the legend grows. He's not the first. There have been others who created something like "Linsanity," including: Tim Tebow: Fourth-quarter comeback king this season for Denver ... "Tebowing" became all the rage ... Strong Christian beliefs became lightning rod for some ... In the end, though, completed only 46.5 percent of his passes Mark Fidrych: Nicknamed "The Bird" after the Sesame Street...

If Mary Sapula were a lightning rod, she would have been zapped from all the charges directed at her Wednesday night because of her opposition to the town's proposal for improving Nooks Hill Road as part of a sewer project. The criticism of Sapula, a member of Citizens for a Better Cromwell, came during a town meeting discussion of a proposal to spend $2.88 million on installing sanitary sewers along sections of Nooks Hill and Field roads, and improving Nooks Hill Road. Ernest H. Lacore, of 2 Riverside Drive, one of five streets connected to the rest of the world by Nooks Hill Road, said he took "personal offense" to Sapula's reference to the narrow, often winding road as one that "goes nowhere."

Jeremy Lin's rise in popularity has been quick, and the legend grows. He's not the first. There have been others who created something like "Linsanity," including: Tim Tebow: Fourth-quarter comeback king this season for Denver ... "Tebowing" became all the rage ... Strong Christian beliefs became lightning rod for some ... In the end, though, completed only 46.5 percent of his passes Mark Fidrych: Nicknamed "The Bird" after the Sesame Street...

Kindergartner Emily Petrow didn't stop smiling during musician and songwriter Rick Charette's entire performance. Second-grader Eric Blakeslee jumped like a popping popcorn kernel during the popcorn song. And kindergartner Rachael Wadley sang with face aglow as Charette crooned "swish, swash, swish; scrub, scrub, scrub. Look at me; I'm covered with suds." It didn't take Charette long to warm up his audience. From the first introductory hello, he seized the attention of the children at Frank M. Kearns Primary School Tuesday morning.

Hartford Gets Needed Whalers History Lesson Sports Editor: In an Aug. 5 story on a spirited reunion of the old Hartford Whalers ["Ex-Whalers Hold Long-Overdue Team Meeting"], former Whaler Dave Tippett is quoted as saying he had never experienced anything like the bond the players had in Hartford and that his wife related after attending games here: "I now know 3,000 people. Where else can you say that in a major sports town now?" Erudite professors tell us history is instructive, and I suspect it is true.

A-Rod has been a lightning rod. Since debuting with the Mariners in 1995, Alex Rodriguez has been hailed as a baseball star straight out of central casting. Articulate, polite, handsome and one of the best players in the game, A-Rod is this generation's Mr. Perfect. But there has been a backlash since he signed a record-setting, 10-year, $252.1 million, contract with the Rangers in December of 2000, and it has only intensified since he joined the Yankees last year. Some athletes just make people love to hate them, and there's something about A-Rod that brings this out in many people -- especially those who follow the Red Sox. So add A-Rod to the list of baseball's All-American heroes.

BEIRUT March of the Zapotec Ba Da Bing After digging into Eastern European music on his past two albums, Zach Condon takes a new-world turn on his latest. The Beirut mastermind went to Oaxaca, Mexico, and hired a local 19-piece ensemble, Band Jimenez, for "March of the Zapotec," half of his new double-EP release. The resulting six songs are stately and formal, but there's a festive air, too, in the dusty brass and crashing cymbals. Condon sings in a rich voice and adds touches on ukulele, trumpet, French horn and euphonium.

By MATTHEW KAUFFMAN, mkauffman@courant.com and The Hartford Courant, November 5, 2011

A few months after taking the helm as president of the Connecticut Light & Power Co., Jeffrey D. Butler spoke at a business breakfast in New London County, telling a receptive audience about his vision for a more dependable and respected electric company. "In the future, you'll see a whole level of difference in reliability and service to our customers," Butler said at the October 2009 gathering. "I want our customers to step back and see us as their advocate. " You can pull the plug on that idea.

BEIRUT March of the Zapotec Ba Da Bing After digging into Eastern European music on his past two albums, Zach Condon takes a new-world turn on his latest. The Beirut mastermind went to Oaxaca, Mexico, and hired a local 19-piece ensemble, Band Jimenez, for "March of the Zapotec," half of his new double-EP release. The resulting six songs are stately and formal, but there's a festive air, too, in the dusty brass and crashing cymbals. Condon sings in a rich voice and adds touches on ukulele, trumpet, French horn and euphonium.

It doesn't seem possible that all Alex Rodriguez built over six months can be destroyed in a few days. But this is October and A-Rod, and the nightmare is happening again. "I know what I'm doing. I just have to fix it," said Rodriguez, who went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts Friday in the Yankees' 2-1 loss to the Indians in 11 innings in Game 2 of the AL Division Series. "I'm not pressing, but I have to understand that I have to swing at strikes. I have to be patient and go to first base and leave it to Matsui and Posada.

Hartford Gets Needed Whalers History Lesson Sports Editor: In an Aug. 5 story on a spirited reunion of the old Hartford Whalers ["Ex-Whalers Hold Long-Overdue Team Meeting"], former Whaler Dave Tippett is quoted as saying he had never experienced anything like the bond the players had in Hartford and that his wife related after attending games here: "I now know 3,000 people. Where else can you say that in a major sports town now?" Erudite professors tell us history is instructive, and I suspect it is true.

Donald H. Rumsfeld's exit as defense secretary in President Bush's Cabinet was overdue. Tuesday's elections were a clear mandate on the war he has mismanaged. Mr. Rumsfeld's many mistakes in Iraq range from dismissing calls for an adequate number of U.S. troops to paying scant attention to post-invasion plans for restoring order, connecting sewers and turning on the lights. A micromanager who challenged conventional military wisdom, he usually took only his own counsel. But the defense secretary has deep problems stateside as well.

Gary Sheffield was a spectator for Game 3 of the American League Division Series. "I'll just enjoy the game like everyone else," he said, as he walked out for batting practice. Manager Joe Torre made out the lineup with Sheffield playing first base and batting cleanup, same as the first two games. But Sheffield was 3-for-17 in his career against Kenny Rogers, the Tigers starting pitcher, while Bernie Williams was 12-for-34 with two homers. "But Bernie hasn't played a lot of first base," Torre said before the game.

By KENNETH R. GOSSELIN, kgosselin@courant.com and The Hartford Courant, May 10, 2012

Former Connecticut Light & Power president Jeffrey D. Butler has sold his Avon house for $1.56 million, just four months after putting the Pembroke Drive property on the market. The 6,800-square-foot Colonial at 8 Pembroke Drive was purchased by Donald R. Droppo Jr. and his wife Amy for just under the listing price of $1.6 million, according to public records. Donald Droppo is the president and CEO of Curtis Packaging Corp., a family-owned business in Sandy Hook. Butler and his wife Susan paid $1.6 million for the house in 2009.

So the Yankees have acquired A-Rod. Big deal. Things I'd rather have than A-Rod: Fishing rod. Hot rod. Lightning rod. Goldenrod. Iditarod. As for A-Rod, I think I can speak for all Red Sox fans when I say that by leaving the Rangers for the Yankees, A-Rod goes from being a ramrod to a nimrod. But let's talk baseball. Is this the Curse of the Bambino at work? It sure has all the earmarks: Aaron Boone, the Yankees' third baseman hits the homer in the 11th inning to beat the Red Sox in Game 7 of the ALCS, and then tears his ACL playing basketball, which means he's out for the season.

A-Rod has been a lightning rod. Since debuting with the Mariners in 1995, Alex Rodriguez has been hailed as a baseball star straight out of central casting. Articulate, polite, handsome and one of the best players in the game, A-Rod is this generation's Mr. Perfect. But there has been a backlash since he signed a record-setting, 10-year, $252.1 million, contract with the Rangers in December of 2000, and it has only intensified since he joined the Yankees last year. Some athletes just make people love to hate them, and there's something about A-Rod that brings this out in many people -- especially those who follow the Red Sox. So add A-Rod to the list of baseball's All-American heroes.